Dispensing apparatus



G. s. KLEIN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 31, 1926 Oct. 30, 1928.

Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE S. KLEIN, OE GRANGER, WASHINGTON.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 31, 1926. Serial No. 132,?63.

his invention relates to dispensing apparatus, one of the objects being to-provide a simple, compact and eflicient structure designed primarily for dispensing paper pails of the type used in packaging oysters, mince meat and other commodities.

A further object is to provide apparatus which will protect the pails from dust and dirt so that they will be preserved in a sanitary condition ready for use.

Another object is to provide a dispensing apparatus utilizing very few parts in its construction and which can, therefore, be manufactured at low cost.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, the cover being open and a pail being shown depending from the casing.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the lower portion of the casing and the contents thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates an elongated casing preferably rectangular in cross section although it can be of any other desired contour most suitable for use in connection with the objects to be dispensed. The interior proportions of this casing are such that when a stack of nested containers such as paper pails P, is placed therein the faces of the stack will be spaced from the Walls of the casing.

One wall of the casing may be provided with a window 2 through which the contents can be viewed and a cover 3 may be provided at the top end of the casing for closing the same. In the present instance this cover is hingedly mounted but this is not essential as the cover can be bodily removable or connected in any manner desired.

The walls of the casing 1 are tapered or as shown at 4 so that the outlet opening 5 provided at the bottom of the casing is sli htlv greater than the size of the top of the coii tainer to be dispensed.

Slots 6 are formed in opposed walls of the casing near the bottom thereof and secured ing downwardly from its attached end 8 and merging into an inwardly curved 9 eX- tend ng loosely through the slot and adapted to bind against one surface of the stack of containers in the casing. Similar springs 10 are secured to the slotted walls at points below the slots and extend upwardly, these springs merging into inwardly curved jaws 11 extending through the slots 6 and likewise designed to engage one of the faces of the stack of containers. Thus it will be seen that a pair of aws extend inwardly from each slot, the two pairs being oppositely disposed.

A stack of nested containers such as pails P is insertible downwardly into the open top of the casing, it being understood that when the pails are thus nested the flaps of each pail lap the walls of the next adjoining pail. For the purpose of insuring proper distension of the uppermost pails of the stack a filler 12 formed of a metal block or the like is fitted snugly in the uppermost pail. This filler however, in no senseconstitutes a weight fol facilitating operation of the apparatus.

When the stack of nested containers is inserted the lower end thereof wedges between the opposed pairs of jaws and the downward movement of the stack continues until the bottom of the lowest container is projected through the opening 5 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Downward pressure on the stack is then discontinued and the stack will be sup ported by the gripping action of the jaws upon opposed flaps of the lowest container. Vhen it is desired to remove a container the projecting portion is gripped and pulled downwardly. This will cause the entire stack to move downwardly until the flaps of the lowest container are withdrawn from between the upper jaws 9. Immediately following this the upper jaws will grip the flaps of the second container and retard its downward movement while the first container is being withdrawn from between the lower jaws 11. Immediately thereafter the flaps of the lower container are freed from the jaws and the second container is gripped by all of the aws and supported with its bottom por tion projecting below the casing. The low est container can of course be easily removed to each slotted wall is a leaf spring 7 cXtendfrom the casing through the opening 5 and will be found to be clean and in good condition for use. The second container will be left in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 ready for a repetition of the foregoing operation. When the uppermost containers arrive between the jaws the form 12 will pre Vent them from being collapsed by the pressure of the jaws thereagainst.

lVhat is claimed is:

Dispensing apparatus including an elongated casing having an upper inlet and a lower outlet a pair of oppositely extending springs connected to each of two opposed walls of the casing, jaws extending from the springs and projecting into the casing, said jaws being superposed and constituting means for gripping the lower container of a nested stack to support the stack with the lower container within and below the outlet next lowest container into position between and in engagement with the jaws.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

GEORGE S. KLEIN. 

